I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and been watching/following Junior hockey in Vernon my whole life. My family watched Senior men's hockey in Vernon in the 1950's and has been watching Junior hockey in Vernon since it started in 1961. I have two family members that played Junior hockey in Vernon. I have had season tickets since 1990 and missed 5 home games since 2004 and 46 home games since 1990. I started and created this blog in November 2008 and have over 2.7 million viewers. For anyone who couldn't watch or attend tonight's Vipers game, here are my thoughts and views from tonight's hockey game. You may agree or disagree, but we all have our own opinion on the hockey game and see things differently. I try to be professional and give a fare game recap from both sides. Thank you for visiting my blog.
I was at tonight's Vernon Vipers-Salmon Arm Silverbacks game as the Vipers defeated the Silverbacks 5-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 3,156 fans at Kal Tire Place.
Starting Goaltenders:
Vernon Vipers: Ethan David
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Eli Pulver
2nd Period: I thought the hometown Vipers got off to a great start and were the better team in the first half. or at least the first seven to eight minutes. Noah Dorey gave Vernon a 2-0 lead at 1:01 while Marcus Broberg got Salmon Arm to within a goal. Ryan Gillespie did all the work at the blueline to make the play and start the play, that ended up in the back of the net. It was Broberg's goal that got the Apes back in the hockey game and gave SA some life and changed the momentum. The Silverbacks with a strong push back, were the better team in the second half and outplayed the Snakes in the final ten minutes. For a second straight period, Ethan David was solid in goal, made some big stops keeping the Vipers in the game. It was 2-1 Vernon after 40 minutes of play. The Gorillas went 0-1 with the power play. The S'Backs outshot the Vipers 15-12.
3rd Period: The Vipers started the final frame, on the PK. Vernon with a big penalty kill, killed off the minor before Adam Csabi with a highlight reel goal, gave the Snakes an early 3-1 lead. Ahead by two goals, the Vipers played very well at both ends of the rink and were the better team in the 3rd period. Vernon capitalized on their opportunities and played well with the lead. Salmon Arm struggled offensively, but did manage to generate/create a couple of good looks/quality chances. As the period continued, both teams got a little chippy/frustrated. SA would get Eli Pulver to the bench with about two and a half minutes remaining. The Snakes missed a couple of empty netters before Julian Facchinelli put the game away. The Vipers come away with the 5-2 victory. The Silverbacks go 1-1 with the PP while the Vipers went 0-1 with the man advantage.
Vernon Vipers Top Performers:
Linden Burrett I thought played very well and one of if not his best game as a Viper in his rookie season. Made some strong plays at both ends of the rink, was very good on the Viper backend.
Owen Kim (1 assist) Played with a ton of jump/energy, was laying the body, took a couple of hits, was engaged in the play during and in between whistles. Played hard, competed and battled.
Hank Cleaves (1 assist) I thought played a smart game up front and played well in the victory
Luke Pakulak (1 assist) Was physical and strong in on pucks/the forecheck. Battled/competed
Ethan David (33 saves) Has played very well against the Silverbacks this season, was solid between the pipes this evening. David was forced to make some stellar saves during the 1st and 2nd periods, kept his team in the game at times with the Backs pressing.
Game Thought's: Vernon Vipers
- Tonight was the Vipers first home game since a 3-2 victory over Coquitlam January 13th
- A great atmosphere inside Kal Tire Place tonight
- The Snakes with a good start, played very well and held their own in the 1st period. I thought the Vipers were physical, didn't get a ton of quality opportunities but scored the lone goal and got some big saves from their goaltender
- The Vipers next game is Friday in Victoria
- Vernon is 5-3-0-0 vs Salmon Arm this season
- The Vipers didn't get as many quality opportunities as Salmon Arm, but scored on their chances
- With the Vipers win and Trails loss, the Vipers move three points ahead of the Smoke Eaters
- The Snakes went 0-3 with the power play
- I liked Vernon's start to the 2nd period. Noah Dorey gave the Vipers an early 2-0 lead and the Vipers were the better team in the first half. But Salmon Arm would cut the lead to one and turn the tables and outplayed the Snakes in the second half with a strong push back. Ethan David was again forced to make some big stops
- Noah Dorey wears #3 was wearing #5 this evening
- The Vipers and Silverbacks play once more this regular season, February 17th in Vernon
- This was one of the Vipers better games in a while
- I thought the Vipers were physical and the more physical team
- A great crowd tonight and the second sellout of the season. Tonight's attendance was announced as a sellout 3,156
- Vernon plays five of their next seven games on the road
- The Vipers scored some timely goals
- This was a very good/exciting game
- The Vipers are 3-1-0-0 at home vs Salmon Arm this year
- For the first time in a while, the Snakes weren't heavily outshot
- Former Vernon Vipers forward/captain David Robinson was at tonight's game
- How good has Vernon's goaltending been this season? And where would the Snakes be without them? Ethan David has been solid this year and very good vs Salmon Arm, played a heck of a game
- The Snakes have won three of their last five games and won six of their last ten games
- Leading 2-1 heading into the 3rd period, the Vipers were forced to kill off a penalty that was continued from the 2nd period. The Vipers with a very big PK would kill off the remainder of the penalty before Adam Csabi deked out Eli Pulver at 2:37 giving the Vipers a 3-1 lead. I really like the Vipers 3rd period, I thought they played very well with the lead and were the better team for most of the period. Vernon played well at both ends of the rink, were physical and limited the Silverbacks opportunities
- The Vipers next home game is vs Salmon Arm. Is anyone else getting tired of seeing the same teams over and over again? Why do we have to play Salmon Arm nine times but other teams only five times? I wish we would see all the Coastal Conference teams at least once a season
- The Vipers are 13-4-1-0 at Kal Tire Place
- The Snakes were wearing their yellow alternate jerseys tonight
- An ambulance was called to the arena during the 2nd period as a fan needed medical attention and was hauled out by stretcher
- Isaac Tremblay returned to the Vipers lineup, after serving a two game suspension
- The Vipers move to within five points of 3rd place Salmon Arm
- How great have the crowds been this season? The atmosphere and energy at the games is so much more entertaining and makes the hockey games more exciting
- With the win, Vernon improves to 22-14-1-0 sit 4th in the Interior Conference
Top Performers Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Nathaniel Davis I thought was one of the Apes better d-men this evening. Saw a lot of minutes, was good at both ends of the rink and played very well with and without the puck
JJ Monteiro (1 goal) Played a strong game up front for the Silverbacks
Ryan Gillespie (1 assist) Had a strong game, made some plays, was hard to contain/defend
Game Thought's: Salmon Arm Silverbacks
- The Gorillas have been outscored 10-4 in their last two games
- Lots of Salmon Arm fans in attendance
- The Silverbacks played a good opening frame, gave up the lone goal of the period, had at least four quality looks/opportunities, couldn't solve Vernon's goaltender
- The Silverbacks went 1-4 with the man advantage
- Salmon Arm's next game is Friday at home to the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings
- This was a physical/chippy a fair with the Snakes being the more physical team
- The Apes had several quality chances through out the hockey game, more so in the first two periods couldn't capitalize on their opportunities
- The Silverbacks are 10-9-0-1 on the road
- Salmon Arm gave up the opening goal and trailed the entire contest
- SA gives up an early goal to start the middle frame, but cuts Vernon's lead to one goal and pushes hard in the second half. The Silverbacks were outplayed in the first six to seven minutes but replied with a good finish to the 2nd period
- The last time these two teams met, the Vipers won 2-0 January 24th in Salmon Arm
- The Silverbacks have lost three of their last five games but won six of their last ten games
- The S;Backs definintely had the better of the scoring chances
- I think if SA scores a goal or two earlier in the hockey game, this could have changed the game and maybe even the outcome
- Silverbacks General Manager Brooks Christtensen attended the Vipers training camp back in the early 2000's
- Salmon Arm plays six of their next ten games away from home
- I like the S'Backs game tonight. I thought they generated/created several quality chances just couldn't solve Ethan David or score on their opportunities
With the loss, Salmon Arm falls to 24-12-0-2 sit 3rd in the Interior Conference
Scratches:
Vernon Vipers:
Isaac Fecteau
Nick Mikan
Bronson Ross
Salmon Arm Silverbacks:
Casy Laylin
Nicholas Wolfenberg
Lian Gayfer
Jacob Bonkowski
Jonah Aegerter
Tysen Smith
Energy Player of the Game:
Wasn't announced
Three Star's:
1st Star: Ethan David (33 saves)
2nd Star: Adam Csabi (1 goal)
3rd Star: JJ Monteiro (1 goal)
Boxscore-Game Summary,
Game Report,
Text Box Score,
Vernon Junior Hockey History website,
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